LATROBE (93.7 The Fan) – Part of the reason there is anticipation for this year’s Steelers preseason opener is all of the eyes on quarterback Will Howard. Missing the preseason games last year, Howard needs to impress to make this roster.
Howard missed all three of the preseason games his rookie season because of a thumb injury which landed him on injured reserve at the first part of the 2025 season. While he got a few reps as the backup quarterback in practice last year, it was like he got a medical redshirt.
Whereas last year the injury made it easy to keep him, this year, the team drafted Drew Allar in the third round and later Aaron Rodgers announced his return. The likelihood of keeping four quarterbacks on a 53-man roster is slim.
The second-year quarterback from Ohio State understands the math.
“I think that’s one of the biggest measuring tapes is the preseason reps,” Howard said. “Camp is great, going against the ones and twos is great, but getting out there in a live setting in a real football game is just different. It is at the college level and it is at this level.”
“I still haven’t seen it, so I’m excited to get out there and experience it.”
“I know everyone says preseason isn’t real football, but to me it is. I’m going to treat it as such and go out there and make the most out of my reps because I know it’s important.”
As he has pointed out, the last time he played in a football game was January 20, 2025 beating Notre Dame in the national championship game going 17-21 for 231 yards, two touchdowns and no picks and a 204.8 QB rating. His only season at OSU he completed 73% of his passes for 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns, 10 interceptions.
The 24-year-old had a year to actively picked the brain of Rodgers. He said he kept a written notebook of advice Rodgers had for him. Between that and quarterback school with QB coach Tom Arth and head coach Mike McCarthy, Howard believes he’s better than the college version, remembering he lasted until the sixth round after winning that title.
“I think there’s been a lot of different areas I’ve made strides in,” Howard said. “I think my consistency in my mechanics has been a lot better. The consistency of how I’m throwing the ball, where my arm slot is. Just the way the ball is coming off my hand is feeling good right now.”
Aaron Rodgers doesn't see need to play in preseason
“I think the second thing is the footwork and dialing that in, not only the build-a-drop drills that we do every day, but from the gun and feeling out, ‘alright this drop is a little different’. There are certain little nuances that I’m starting to figure out what I like versus what Aaron may like. Obviously, it’s very uniform, but there are a couple of little differences where you can pick and choose where you can make it your own.”
“Through the last couple of days and last couple of weeks (at St. Vincent College) it’s been good to fine tune that stuff. I feel good where I’m at.”
Thursday night it will be putting those thoughts aside and just playing the game. Howard can’t be worried about fundamentals during live action, just results. His career rests on it. He feels like he’s a lot more comfortable around his teammates now and has the confidence to just be himself. Howard says he’s an encourager, but needs to show on the field he can be the next Steelers starting quarterback.
These three games give him an opportunity to take first steps to prove it.
“I’m so fired up, I can’t wait for the game,” Howard said. “I’ve been champing at the bit for awhile to get out there with the guys in real game-like settings with the uniform on, with the helmet on.”
“I’m just really, really excited.”
What 2nd year quarterback said about what Thursday means for his career
What 2nd year quarterback said about what Thursday means for his career
